1. The Nature of Love agape “Unconquerable benevolence, undefeatable goodwill”

2. God is love (1 Jno. 4:8) We are compelled to love because God first loved us, 1 Jno. 4:19, 7-8 Motives, character and duration of love, 1 Cor. 13 Devoted action of the will 2

3. The Nature of Love “By this we know love…” (1 Jno. 3:16) 3

4. Love is Observable Love is an action word! Jno. 3:16 To say we love someone without acting with good will toward that person is not love, 1 Jno. 3:16-18 – “Love unspoken is not love” – Love professed yet not practiced is not love – Husbands, practice your love, Eph. 5:25, 28-29 4

5. Love is Sacrificial Love is not selfish: Giving, not taking, 1 Jno. 4:9-10; 3:16; 1 Cor. 13:5 (3) Love is willing to be spent in order to help others, 2 Cor. 12:15 – Love incurs cost to itself and exhausts itself practicing good will toward others – There is no limit to love’s reach and the sacrifices it will make 5

6. Love is Obedient to Authority Obedience to the Lord is a direct reflection of one’s love for Him, Jno. 14:15 – Do not love…do not obey Him, Jno. 14:24 – Jesus set the example, Jno. 14:31 God loves the obedient person, Jno. 14:21, 23 – By this we know we love God, 1 Jno. 2:3-5 6

7. Love does not Measure itself by Others Love does not compare itself, 2 Cor. 10:12 Motives of love, 1 Cor. 13:1-3 – Love does not concern itself with itself, but with the welfare of others (2 Cor. 12:15) – Christ is the supreme example, Jno. 15:9-14 7

8. Love does not Measure itself by Others Love on display, 1 Cor. 13:4-8 – God’s love for Christ: Matt. 3:17 – Jno. 8:29 – God’s love for mankind: Matt. 5:43-47 – Matt. 22:37 – God’s love for sinners: Eph. 2:4-7 – 2 Cor. 5:15 – Husbands and wives: Eph. 5:25-33 – Parents and children: Eph. 6:1-4 8

9. Love is Just Love does not free the guilty or punish the innocent, Exo. 34:5-9 – Love does not say: "I love you so much I will show favoritism toward you” – “I love you so much I will not rebuke, reprove or correct you!” 9

10. Love is Just Love disciplines when needed – Warns and corrects / Punishes to improve – Correct the child, Heb. 12:5-11; Prov. 13:24 – Correct the sinning (unruly) Christian, 2 Cor. 2:3-11 (1 Cor. 5:4-5) 10

11. The Nature of Love -God is love- “Love never fails” (1 Cor. 13:8, 13) 11